Monart Destination Spa

The Still,
Enniscorthy,
Co.Wexford
Monart Destination Spa enquiries
www.monart.ie

• Peace, quiet, nature and indulgence
• Cocoon of total spa bliss
• Opportunity for complete and total relaxation

We first visited Monart Destination Spa two years ago just after it opened and was already causing quite an impression. An adult-only luxury destination, set in one hundred acres of mature countryside offering gourmet food and deluxe spa treatments, and all within just-bearable commuting distance from Dublin – it soon became the weekend retreat for hundreds of city dwellers. But in the intervening couple of years, spa facilities have been popping up around the country like mushrooms, and we have visited many of them. We were interested to see how Monart had developed in the intervening years, and if we would be as impressed as we were on first visit.

THE SPA AT MONART

If anybody doubted our love of spas or thought that it might be in decline, they only need to visit Monart. We found this spa to be at the cutting edge of the “relax, unwind and rejuvenate” industry with the mantra “Return ToYour True Nature”. Driving up to the 18th century Monart House we felt we were entering a historic yet contemporary world surrounded by nature. We moved seamlessly through to the modern hotel area where the spa is located. The many treatments on offer include 3 and 6 night detox packages and 3 night anti-ageing programmes and a range of therapies including hamam, dry floatation, facials, body scrubs, peels and wraps, massage therapies and special treatments for men as well as a full range of beauty and hair treatments. I enjoyed a salt scrub and back massage which took place in a warm room on a heated plinth. It was very detoxing, and my skin felt like silk afterwards.
The thermal suite at Monart is one of the best we have visited, with an outside sauna, and a range of heated wet and dry rooms and showers. At certain times in the day a friendly therapist at the thermal suite will give you a mini foot massage if you are feeling weary!

ACCOMMODATION AT MONART

We were shown to our room – all rooms have private balconies – and were immediately struck by the dimensions. These bedrooms are very spacious, you could do your yoga or tai chi practice here, or even perform a ballet!
Just outside my bedroom’s glass door, stood a huge beech tree, the second tallest in the country, I was told. Mature trees doted around the grounds give the feeling that this place has always been here, quite extraordinary in a complex so new. Interior design is so tasteful, I suspect they had some Feng Shui consultation involved here, as there really is a sense of balance between wood, glass, earth and water, and the soft beige colours in the bedroom lend a serene backdrop to the gardens outside. Toiletries are first class – Pevonia – towels and robes are top of the range, even the paintings on the bedroom walls by a local artist are well above what usually adorns hotel rooms. Lovely bathroom with a huge shower with great pressure, separate bath, cool marble and plenty of mirrors. The toilet was separate to the bathroom altogether.

DINING AT MONART

And so to the food. No punishment here. My sister and I had a fabulous three-course dinner with a bottle of great wine, with plenty of both healthful and indulgent dishes on offer. We Enjoyed an Assiette of Foie Gras and a roast breast and leg of Squab Pigeon for starters, and grilled Fillet of Wexford Beef and Pan Fried Port Fillet for main courses. Other choices included Monkfish in Pancetta, Breast of Pheasant, Organic Chicken, Sole on the Bone. Food and service was fine dining and as good as the best restaurants in town! Desserts offered warm chocolate fondant, rum & raisin soufflé and farmhouse cheeses as well as some exotic fruits and crème brulee. We dined royally!
Breakfast the next morning – after another trip around the thermal suite to work up the appetite – was just the ticket. Fresh smoothies made to order, plenty of cold and cooked dishes, and super-friendly staff. In fact the staff appear infused with that sense of comfort and contentment, as from the friendly greeting at the door through the whole stay, we found every body working there to be full of a calm efficiency and friendliness. We also had the car magically parked and re-appearing when we checked out – all without asking. DVD and CD players in the rooms allow for plenty of relaxation and indulgence, and guests are encouraged to bring their own favourites if they like. I enjoyed my brief stay and could easily go back and spend several days there. It is a place where you could bring your romantic partner, a good friend, or even have a wonderfully escapist break all on your own. Whatever spas might come and go in Ireland over the next few years, Monart will continue to be one of the most treasured. And for the time-poor Dubliners who love to visit, the journey is now even shorter with the Gorey town by-pass. The stress gets less!


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